--- HITS Del Mar press release, edited by Eurodressage
International CDI action during Dressage Week at the 2025 HITS Del Mar National Horse Show got underway on Friday, April 18. In the final class of the day it was northern California native Sarah Mason-Beaty that led the lap of honour for the Prix St. Georges 1* aboard Liang, earning a score of 69.147%.
Build on Debut Performance
Mason-Beaty first began her relationship with Liang five years ago after importing the flashy nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (by Guardian S x Florencio I) from The Netherlands as a four-year-old. Since then, Liang has developed into a budding superstar. The pair completed their first CDI experience at the Del Mar CDI on March 20-23. While it was an exciting milestone, Mason-Beaty was eager to build on their performance.
“We couldn’t quite achieve the relaxation that I had wanted to, and so there were some mistakes in our ride last month,” she explained. “This time, I felt like I was able to have him really relax, so to have that difference in just three and a half weeks, I was very proud. He really felt like he was with me today. We had one mistake in the threes, but he really showed up and stayed with me through the whole test, which is awesome. It has been fun to have such a longstanding road to development with him.”
Their consistent test earned a personal best from the judges, including at E Mariette Sanders-van Gansewinkel (NED), at H Debbie Rodriguez (USA), at C Federico Pinteus (POR), at M Heidi Berry (USA), and at B Sarah Geikie (USA), topping the field of 13 horse-and-rider combinations.
Born in Northern California, Sarah came up through the Junior and Young Rider programs and won bronze at the 2003 U.S. Young Rider Championships. She trained with Charlotte Bredahl in her youth years. With Liang she placed 13th on the 4-year old division at the 2020 U.S. Young Horse Championships.
Now, the 38-year old Mason-Beaty will continue to develop Liang in the Small Tour with eyes on the 2025 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions at Lamplight Equestrian Center. She trains with Kelly Mykrantz.
Top Three
Finishing just behind Mason-Beaty with a score of 69.000% was Günter Seidel (USA) and Bogart, a nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding (by Beltano x His Highness) owned by Louise Leatherdale.
Nicki Grandia (USA) completed the top three with Don Erré, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding (by Don Federico x Fürst Nymphenburg) owned by Sheila Buchanan, earning a score of 68.000%.
The Prix St Geortes featured 13 combinations in total with a mixture of Olympians, U.S. team riders, professionals and ambitious adult amateurs.
Related Links
Scores: 2025 CDI Del Mar
Van Olst Horses Sells Maxson to American Rider Sarah Mason-Beaty